South Korean official in apparent suicide after concert tragedy

A South Korean official handling safety measures at a concert where 16 people died apparently committed suicide hours after the tragedy which happened when a ventilation grate collapsed, authorities said Saturday. The death of the 37-year-old local government official, surnamed Oh, was announced as South Korean police launched an investigation into Friday’s incident at an outdoor pop concert in the city of Seongnam. He was found dead Saturday a few hours after he was interrogated by police over the disaster, YTN TV said.

I am sorry for the dead victims… Please take a good care of my children.

Oh’s short message to his wife

The victims were standing on a ventilation grating to get a better view when the structure collapsed under their weight, sending them plunging 18.7 metres down into an underground parking area. Amateur video footage obtained by the YTN news channel showed shocked spectators surrounding the collapsed grate as the popular all-girl K-pop band 4Minute, apparently oblivious to the accident, continued performing on stage. Authorities inspected the site on Saturday.

Asia-Pacific 4minute